Roof Rack question

[Ranger_Lui]

So, I’m onto my 4th project on my 2000 ford ranger, and that project is to make a roof rack. Nothing huge, just a bottom and a couple sides put together, my question is, how or where do I bolt it down? Im thinking making some brackets and bolting it kind of by the doors but I have no idea. All of the ones I see and read on online don’t have specifics on bolting on my year or model vehicle. The black ford is mine and the green ford is the roof rack I want to make something similar to. Im only making the top piece, not all that tubing that leads to the truck bed.
.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Muroki2.3]

Are you making a roof rack, or a roll cage? The green truck in picture looks more along the lines of a trophy truck which would have a full roll cage that is connected via bolts or welds to the chassis itself. If you want a roof rack that will hold 200lbs give or take then just rivet that bad boy straight to the body. That’s my opinion, I made one just to hold my spare.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ranger_Lui]

Originally Posted by Muroki2.3

Are you making a roof rack, or a roll cage? The green truck in picture looks more along the lines of a trophy truck which would have a full roll cage that is connected via bolts or welds to the chassis itself. If you want a roof rack that will hold 200lbs give or take then just rivet that bad boy straight to the body. That’s my opinion, I made one just to hold my spare.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Im wanting to make JUST the roof rack not the whole cage.
What kind of rivets did you use? Got a pic?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Muroki2.3]

I used big nasty bolts. But hindsight, and talking to people I realized I should have just used pop-rivets. The kind you install with a squeeze hand-gun. Plus with rivets a guy only needs access to one side of the panel, and if you do them straight it looks super clean.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Undrstm8ed]

Originally Posted by Ranger_Lui

Im wanting to make JUST the roof rack not the whole cage.
What kind of rivets did you use? Got a pic?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

There are better ways to do what your asking and actually have a slew of accessory features work with it and have a nice lower profile rack and better mounting if your open to realistic suggestions and opinions.

[Ranger_Lui]

Originally Posted by Undrstm8ed

There are better ways to do what your asking and actually have a slew of accessory features work with it and have a nice lower profile rack and better mounting if your open to realistic suggestions and opinions.

What are some mounting suggestions? Do you think the rivets would hold up?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Danny74]

OK, Why the hell did this thread just STOP all of a sudden, without any resolve?

Now I have roof rack questions and I can hardly find any info or suggestions. The search function is no help at all.

Can anyone make any suggestions as to a roof rack that I can put on my 1993 ranger super cab?
I would like it to be something I can pull from a Junkyard or equally as cheap. I was considering the Nissan Frontiere's rack.

[Muroki2.3]

Originally Posted by Danny74

OK, Why the hell did this thread just STOP all of a sudden, without any resolve?

Now I have roof rack questions and I can hardly find any info or suggestions. The search function is no help at all.

Can anyone make any suggestions as to a roof rack that I can put on my 1993 ranger super cab?
I would like it to be something I can pull from a Junkyard or equally as cheap. I was considering the Nissan Frontiere's rack.

Check out my picture on the thread. Are you wanting something simple? I just pulled the headliner out, found 4 spots to go through just the sheet metal, not the supports as I didn’t want to compromise the integrity for WHEN I rollover.... then just attached the roof rack with bolts and rubber grommets with some silicone around them, no leaks and it’s been 2-3 years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Undrstm8ed]

Forgive my biased opinion on part selection.. That being said lets dig in.

Originally Posted by Ranger_Lui

What are some mounting suggestions? Do you think the rivets would hold up?

A better useful item would be Rivnuts, similar in use and even installation but just better. Popular in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm most often. Similar to a rivet however rather than just a pin pulling through a small cavity leaving a shallow or small surface area. A Rivnut has a wider surface to clam-shell the material and then provides a more secure threaded hole to insert a bolt. Nearly every manufacture uses this method in factory roof lines for their factory rails and is the preferred method of securing such things. There are lots of suppliers for these but here's an example I had available:

M8 Rivnut

M6 Rivnut

A Simpler version of a necessary (non-Commercial) tool

Originally Posted by Danny74

OK, Why the hell did this thread just STOP all of a sudden, without any resolve?

Now I have roof rack questions and I can hardly find any info or suggestions. The search function is no help at all.

Can anyone make any suggestions as to a roof rack that I can put on my 1993 ranger super cab?
I would like it to be something I can pull from a Junkyard or equally as cheap. I was considering the Nissan Frontier's rack.

I wouldn't do the Nissan Rack, aside from its gaudy aesthetics that don't really that aren't the most attractive even on the Frontier, its good for barely 145lbs if memory serves me right; (The Xterra rack was only 160lbs in total more) and although that sounds like a lot. It adds up quick and the roof can handle a bit more than that. Another issue is the total lack of support for making the best use of it altogether, accessories, mounting solutions, etc..

A solution I would offer for consideration would be making a custom rack that fits your needs which can be done using some rack components, the right rails & feet system, and some proper measuring & planning. It's a buy it once, cry once build option that not only should outlast the rest of your trucks life or parallel that but the accessory options and mounting solutions available may be worth the added incentive depending on your real world needs of functionality.

Some of the components

Rail system

As far as Accessories (55+) and expedition rails

https://www.12degnorth.com/rack-accessories

https://www.12degnorth.com/other-rack-parts

Originally Posted by Muroki2.3

Check out my picture on the thread. Are you wanting something simple? I just pulled the headliner out, found 4 spots to go through just the sheet metal, not the supports as I didn’t want to compromise the integrity for WHEN I rollover.... then just attached the roof rack with bolts and rubber grommets with some silicone around them, no leaks and it’s been 2-3 years.

Running the bolts through the supports may have just added too structure TBH, If running 4 bolts through the original structures for support was to weaken them to the point of failure, a roll-over situation surely would.

Not saying you did it wrong, seeing what was used and how would certainly change ones perception but now understanding load capabilities, shear force in an accident - especially a head on collision with or without weight would be a thought in my mind. I'm not a structural engineer but I would assume the more metal, frame, or structural integrity I could derive a solid mount from the better things would be than through.

Now I have done a crap load of modifications to at least a few hundred plus vehicles in my time on a conservative guess, not including those of all the vehicles I've owned and modded myself. Not sure what yr your ranger is but I do know the roof metal of my 93' & 94' Ranger was about 18-20 gauge sheet steel, nothing like that old school 16-14ga back in the day our parents cars were made of. I don't think yours would be any thinner or thicker for that matter. Adding sound deadening material did make it stop sounding like an old metal gas can though overall.



Outside of that.

I haven't really frequented the site much anymore. I've been working two jobs between a Toyota Dealership and a part time at the several time plugged shop above or out and about in the outdoors. Any questions I can answer or add to let me know, If I don't have the right answer I will get one.

[Undrstm8ed]

Ideally, this is offers maximum surface area for such a small roof line area to do the most with. A basket on the other hand takes away from the most use not to mention limits both additional functional accessory assets and mounting solutions overall.

The above rack setup can be mimic'd, you can use the top, bottom, sides 360*. You can mount a SR series 30", 36", 40" LED bar under the front of the basket, lean it back and tuck it under. Functional, removes a ton of reflective light glare off the hood, and it can hide the light making it less obtrusive and maybe minimizing theft.

You can see the slot under this particular setup? That allows for a table to be locked in using an accessory to do so and or for those that have other means of table setups, you could tuck that solar panel you've always thought about doing and expand your capabilities or stay wherever you may roam.

The sides can be used for additional side lighting, awnings, road showers, or recovery gear; everything from Maxtrax to shovels & axes. The top, additional water, fuel, storage space, or that spare tire mount.

I could come up with at least 5 dozen creative/functional, and best of all most often "DUAL USE" attributes the lame basket or stock bar setups can't do on their own.

Now for the honesty that few on any Ranger site (unless the 5G guys) want to hear.

No, its not cheap or cheaper than the basket or doing something yourself. As I said earlier, it's a buy once, cry once item. If you think your needs may never change, or items get broke and irreplaceable thereby forcing change.. sure you can think that. But not everyone has that T-shirt yet and so I guess you have to learn your own way. I'm not here to change that.

Those that are serious outdoors people that see the potential in a product will DM me or visit the site and do what they do. We appreciate your support, especially in these crazy weird times.


Any questions, or you want to see what else we have to offer, feel free to visit us on the web. https://www.12degnorth.com/product-p...y-front-runner

Right now we just purchased out one of our vendors who makes an amazing product to keep a few jobs in place and a product available.

We have our Las Vegas, Nevada location and they're working on a Midwest warehouse/store in central but Southern Michigan area for a west and Eastern side of the states sources.

[tobihori]

Thank you for the insights. I could use this as a reference since I'm planning to get an aftermarket roof rack at 4WheelOnline. I have a headache rack before but I unmounted it last year. I'm hoping to add more cargo space aside from the bed thus choosing to invest on a roof rack.

[12 Deg North Industries]

Originally Posted by tobihori

Thank you for the insights. I could use this as a reference since I'm planning to get an aftermarket roof rack at 4WheelOnline. I have a headache rack before but I unmounted it last year. I'm hoping to add more cargo space aside from the bed thus choosing to invest on a roof rack.

What options have you found there? If you find yourself still looking for considerations, let us know.

[Danny74]

I believe, the most people think along the same lines that I do. That we want to put a rack on our extended cab, but rather than go through all the work and hassle of piecing together a system or completely custom fabricating something,. And if there is no complete, ready to go kit available, we wish to find a rack on another vehicle that we can do some slight modifications to that would work on our truck. The frontier is only holding about 145 lb. Someonementioned, & believes the Aesthetics is not that great. I for one disagree, and love the way the Frontiers roof rack looks. I think that the frontier would be the best roof rack to put on a ranger, maybe cutting it down a few inches. Also I wonder where the weakness and that rack would be, maybe it might be possible to strengthen it. But it certainly is the cheapest option, finding a roof rack from another vehicle at the salvage yard taking it off and putting it on our Ranger. I'm willing to bet that the majority of people that want a roof rack would be preferring that way.

[Danny74]

Originally Posted by Muroki2.3

Check out my picture on the thread. Are you wanting something simple? I just pulled the headliner out, found 4 spots to go through just the sheet metal, not the supports as I didn’t want to compromise the integrity for WHEN I rollover.... then just attached the roof rack with bolts and rubber grommets with some silicone around them, no leaks and it’s been 2-3 years.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I really do appreciate your response. Looking at your photo it is nothing like what I would like to do to my vehicle. First off I definitely don't want a permanent basket, and I really don't want to just bolt something to the skin without defeat some house sitting on the structure rails for support underneath it. What I would prefer is to somehow put on roof bars where I can add my own type of crossbars coupled with my rear cap that has cross bars on it I can use the full rack cross my truck carry lumber and other things like I do on my station wagon. But I don't just want a single bar in case I need to use a rack when I don't have my rear cap on I can add a basket, which I already have, or fiberglass car carrier on top, which I also have.

I was just speaking to an expert in car accessories the other day. My brother, who lives in work down in Texas. He suggested that I make a template for the curve of the roof. Told me to use plywood, and then to cut it straight in the middle so I could be adjusted. But if I choose a solid piece of wood like a 2 x 6, put a piece of angle iron on top so it doesn't warp or bend. I then could take that with me to any salvage yard and start comparing vehicles that have racks on them. However I could also use that when I go out and happened to see a vehicle in the parking lot that may work oh, course with the permission of the owner compare the roofline.
Anyway, that's similar to the methods that he uses when he puts in sunroofs, or other things that require comparing roof curvatures. He's got a whole pile of Steel templates with the cars years make and models listed.

I think it's pretty good suggestion.

[12 Deg North Industries]

Originally Posted by Danny74

I really do appreciate your response. Looking at your photo it is nothing like what I would like to do to my vehicle. First off I definitely don't want a permanent basket, and I really don't want to just bolt something to the skin without defeat some house sitting on the structure rails for support underneath it. What I would prefer is to somehow put on roof bars where I can add my own type of crossbars coupled with my rear cap that has cross bars on it I can use the full rack cross my truck carry lumber and other things like I do on my station wagon. But I don't just want a single bar in case I need to use a rack when I don't have my rear cap on I can add a basket, which I already have, or fiberglass car carrier on top, which I also have.

I was just speaking to an expert in car accessories the other day. My brother, who lives in work down in Texas. He suggested that I make a template for the curve of the roof. Told me to use plywood, and then to cut it straight in the middle so I could be adjusted. But if I choose a solid piece of wood like a 2 x 6, put a piece of angle iron on top so it doesn't warp or bend. I then could take that with me to any salvage yard and start comparing vehicles that have racks on them. However I could also use that when I go out and happened to see a vehicle in the parking lot that may work oh, course with the permission of the owner compare the roofline.
Anyway, that's similar to the methods that he uses when he puts in sunroofs, or other things that require comparing roof curvatures. He's got a whole pile of Steel templates with the cars years make and models listed.

I think it's pretty good suggestion.

We could possibly make your job a lot easier, more so on an extra cab vs a standard cab, which isn't impossible - just smaller, but if you're honestly looking for an actual clean install that won't look cut & pasted as we like to call it, actual strength, functionality and looks good overall because of the options and accessories that can/will accompany the rack.

We might either have your solution, or may reset your thoughts that even another product may suit your needs. But we have a South African/Australian based rack company that offers enough options to virtually make any rack size and mounts to make things work, safely, and again, offer function.

Baskets, although I know its a go to look is NOT the general consensus in rack selection. They severely limit the end user, but for those looking for a $199 rack system, you cannot convince them otherwise.


Offer you a article based upon things to consider, maybe it might help in some way (?). Still, thanks for the possible read and considerations.

Rack Systems?



.